That January finale marked the end of the Bowl Championship Series, and this year marks start of the Major College Football Playoff era.

The first game is four weeks away, but the 2014 college football season actually kicks off at noon ET Thursday with the unveiling of the Amway Coaches Poll preseason top 25.

Where will the Tigers, bringing back most of their arsenal, be projected? Will the Seminoles be expected to repeat as champions with the return of Heisman winner Jameis Winston? And what about Nick Saban and SEC favorite Alabama?

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) runs with the ball against Auburn Tigers defensive back Jermaine Whitehead (9) and linebacker Kris Frost (17) during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) throws the ball from his own end zone pressured by Auburn Tigers defensive end Craig Sanders (13) and Angelo Blackson (98) during the first half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. (Photo: Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports)

Outside Florida State's quest to repeat and the anticipation of the inaugural playoff', there are many questions heading into the 2014 season:

— Life after Johnny Football: Can the sport thrive without its most popular on-and-off-the-field athlete? Of course. Texas A&M has already moved on from Johnny Manziel's departure (he was drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Browns). And fans will have plenty to focus on with Winston and a handful of other stars.

— Who will win the Heisman? Oregon's Marcus Mariota (he averaged 8.8 yards per passing attempt and 7.3 yards per carry in 2013) and Baylor's Bryce Petty (4,200 yards, 32 TDs in 2013) will be among the favorites, along with Winston. Here's a full list of candidates to know heading into 2014. Winston, however, has history going against him in his quest to repeat. Only one player has won back-to-back Heismans, Ohio State's Archie Griffin, and since 1975 eight players had a chance but came up short, including Tim Tebow and Manziel.

BIG TEN MEDIA DAYS BREAKDOWN

USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg wraps up day one of Big Ten Media Days. The conference welcomed two new teams: Rutgers and Maryland.

— Which teams will reach the national championship game? Now that FSU has dethroned the SEC, Oklahoma and Oregon also are teams that will have a chance to make the playoff era's first champion a non-SEC member.

— What about must-watch games? There will be plenty. Not surprisingly, Alabama vs. LSU (Nov. 8) is at the top of the list. As for non-conference clashes, Michigan State at Oregon (Sept. 6) will be one of the most anticipated.

— Let's not forget about new coaches with something to prove. That list includes Washington's Chris Petersen, Texas' Charlie Strong and Louisville's Bobby Petrino. There's also a fair share of coaches on the proverbial hot seat not to be forgotten.

The first regular-season poll will be released Sept. 2 after a long Labor Day weekend of games. The final regular-season poll will be released Dec. 7.

The coaches poll used to count for one-third of the formula that is used to determine the BCS standings, but it will not be part of the determination of the College Football Playoff, which will use a selection committee to determine teams.

The voting panel, consisting of 62 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches, is chosen, conference by conference, by the American Football Coaches Association via a random draw. A coach must indicate to the AFCA his willingness to participate before his name is included in the pool.

There has been a coaches poll for major college football since 1950. USA TODAY Sports became the administrator of the poll starting with the 1991 season.

COACHES WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE

Michigan has beaten both Ohio State and Michigan State once with Brady Hoke at the helm. (Photo: Tim Fuller, USA TODAY Sports)

Even though they have gone to four straight bowl games, Mississippi State fans are looking for Dan Mullen to return the Bulldogs to the glory days of 2010, where the team went 9-4. (Photo: Spruce Derden, USA TODAY Sports)